Wired2Fire Hellspawn XFire review
With a massive 25in monitor and performance that's as over-the-top as its name, the Hellspawn XFire is extremely well-specified PC for gaming - or anything else, for that matter.
Specifications
4.8GHz Intel Core i5-2500K, 4GB RAM, 25in 1,920×1,080 display, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
While most systems at this price come with a 24in monitor, Wired2Fire has gone one better with a 25in Hanns.G HH251 display. It only has VGA and DVI inputs but the DVI input support HDCP. The monitor also has built-in speakers, although they don’t hold a candle to dedicated PC speakers. The HH251 exhibits a slight blue tint that’s visible on white areas, but it’s barely noticeable in normal use and we welcomed the extra inch of screen size over competing systems’ screens.
Wired2Fire has made a saving when it comes to the mouse and keyboard, with a basic, wired Logitech Deluxe 250 set. They might not look as flashy as some wireless sets, but both are comfortable to use and you’ll never have to worry about running out of batteries. The PC has only a one-year warranty, but it’s collect-and-return rather than return-to-base.
We’ve seen a lot of phenomenal Sandy Bridge PCs, but this system is remarkable even by the very high standards of its competitors. With a massive monitor, immensely powerful graphics card and spectacular performance in our tests, the Hellspawn is our Best Buy.
Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Rating | ***** |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2500K |
| Processor external bus | 100MHz (Sandy Bridge DMI) |
| Processor multiplier | x48 |
| Processor clock speed | 4.8GHz |
| Processor socket | LGA1155 |
| Memory | 4 |
| Memory type | PC3-10666 |
| Maximum memory | 32GB |
| Motherboard | Asus P8P67 |
| Motherboard chipset | Intel P67 |
Ports | |
| USB2 ports (front/rear) | 2/8 |
| Firewire ports (front/rear) | 0/1 |
| eSATA ports (front/rear) | 0/0 |
| Wired network ports | 1x 10/100/1000 |
| Wireless networking support | none |
Internal Expansion | |
| Case | midi tower |
| PCI-E x1 slots (free) | 2 (1) |
| PCI-E x16 slots (free) | 2 (1) |
| Free Serial ATA ports | 6 |
| Free memory slots | 2 |
| Free 3.5in drive bays | 6 |
Hard Disk | |
| Hard disk model(s) | Samsung HD103SJ |
| Interface | SATA2 |
| Total storage capacity | 1,000GB |
Graphics | |
| Graphics card(s) | 2GB ATI Radeon HD 6970 |
| Graphics/video ports | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini DisplayPort |
Sound | |
| Sound | Realtek ALC892 |
| Sound outputs | 7.1 line out, optical S/PDIF out, stereo line out, mic in |
| Speakers | none |
Removable Drives | |
| Supported memory cards | none |
| Optical drive type(s) | DVD+/-RW +/-DL BD-ROM |
Display | |
| Viewable size | 25 in |
| Screen model | Hanns.G HH251 |
| Native resolution | 1,920×1,080 |
| Screen inputs | DVI, VGA |
Other Hardware | |
| Keyboard | Logitech Deluxe 250 Keyboard |
| Mouse | Logitech B110 |
Software | |
| Software included | none |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
| Operating system restore option | Windows disc |
Buying Information | |
| Warranty | one year collect and return |
| Price | £999 |
| Details | www.wired2fire.co.uk |